Rare earth removal of phosphorus-containing materials

Abstract

This disclosure relates generally to methods and rare earth-containing additives for removing inorganic and organic phosphorus-containing target materials.

1 . A method, comprising:
 contacting an aqueous medium comprising a phosphorus-containing target material with a rare earth-containing additive to remove at least a portion of the phosphorus-containing target material from the aqueous medium to form a treated aqueous medium, wherein the phosphorus-containing target material comprises one or more of phosphoric acid, phosphinate, non-fluoridated phosphonates, phosphonic acid, phosphinic acid, phosphine oxide, metaphosphate, phosphonite, thiophosphate, thiophosphyoryl amide, and phosphatidylcholine.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rare earth-containing additive is primarily in the form of cerium (IV), cerium (III) or a mixture of cerium (IV) and cerium (III). 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contacting step comprises the sub-steps:
 contacting the aqueous medium with an oxidizing agent to oxidize the phosphorus-containing target material to form an oxidized phosphorus-containing target material, the oxidized phosphorus-containing target mater having one or both of a different structure and composition than the phosphorus-containing target material; and   thereafter contacting, in the aqueous medium, the rare earth-containing additive with the oxidized phosphorus-containing target material to remove the oxidized phosphorus-containing target material.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contacting step comprises the sub-steps:
 contacting the aqueous medium with a reducing agent to reduce the phosphorus-containing target material to form a reduced phosphorus-containing target material, the reduced phosphorus-containing target material having one or both of a different structure and composition than the phosphorus-containing target material; and   thereafter contacting, in the aqueous medium, the rare earth-containing additive with the reduced target phosphorus-containing target material to remove the reduced phosphorus-containing target material.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contacting step comprises the sub-steps:
 contacting the aqueous medium with a base and/or base equivalent to convert the phosphorus-containing target material to a primary species different from the phosphorus-containing target material; and   thereafter contacting, in the aqueous medium, the rare earth-containing additive with the primary species to remove the primary species.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contacting step comprises the sub-steps:
 contacting the aqueous medium with an acid and/or acid equivalent to convert the phosphorus-containing target material to a primary species different from the phosphorus-containing target material; and   thereafter contacting, in the aqueous medium, the rare earth-containing additive with the primary species to remove the primary species.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rare earth-containing additive is water-soluble. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rare earth-containing additive is water-insoluble. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the phosphorus-containing target material is selected from the group consisting essentially of phosphoric acid, phosphinate, phosphinite, non-fluoridated phosphonates, phosphonic acid, phosphinic acid, phosphonite, thiophosphate, and thiophosphyoryl ester. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the phosphorus-containing target material comprises phosphatidylcholine. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the phosphorus-containing target material comprises a thiophosphyoryl amide. 
     
     
         12 . A composition, comprising:
 an aqueous medium,   a rare earth-containing additive,   a phosphorus-containing target material comprising one or more of one or more of phosphoric acid, phosphinate, phosphinite, non-fluoridated phosphonates, phosphonic acid, phosphinic acid, phosphine oxide, metaphosphate, phosphonite, thiophosphate, thiophosphyoryl ester, thiophosphyoryl amide, and phosphatidylcholine, and   a target-laden rare earth composition formed by the rare earth-containing additive and the phosphorus-containing target material.   
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the rare earth-containing additive comprises primarily cerium and wherein the target-laden rare earth composition is a complex formed by the rare earth-containing additive and phosphorus-containing target material. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the rare earth-containing additive comprises primarily cerium and wherein the target-laden rare earth composition is formed by sorption of the phosphorus-containing target material by the rare earth-containing additive. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the rare earth-containing additive comprises primarily cerium and wherein the target-laden rare earth composition is formed by a chemical reaction between the phosphorus-containing target material and the rare earth-containing additive. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the rare earth-containing additive is water-soluble. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the rare earth-containing additive is water-insoluble. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the phosphorus-containing target material is selected from the group consisting essentially of phosphoric acid, phosphinate, phosphinite, non-fluoridated phosphonates, phosphonic acid, phosphinic acid, phosphonite, thiophosphate, and thiophosphyoryl ester. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the phosphorus-containing target material comprises phosphatidylcholine. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the phosphorus-containing target material comprises a thiophosphyoryl amide. 
     
     
         21 . A process, comprising:
 receiving an aqueous medium comprising a target material, the target material comprising both reactive and non-reactive phosphates; and   contacting the aqueous medium with a rare earth-containing additive to remove at least most of the reactive and non-reactive phosphates.   
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 21 , wherein the reactive phosphate is in the form of an anion and the non-reactive phosphate is in the form of a cation, neutral species, and/or colloid or suspension. 
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 22 , wherein at least most of the rare earth-containing additive is water soluble. 
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 22 , wherein at least most of the rare earth-containing material is water insoluble. 
     
     
         25 . The process of  claim 21 , further comprising before the contacting step:
 converting at least a portion of the non-reactive phosphate to reactive phosphate.   
     
     
         26 . The process of  claim 21 , further comprising before the contacting step:
 converting at least a portion of the reactive phosphate to non-reactive phosphate.